Opening of the exhibition: Bell hat, flat cap, felt cap & co. - Headgear in the mirror of historical everyday photography

Curators: Susann Hellemann (M.A.), Cultural Scientist & Dr. Lothar Binger, Cultural Historian

The archive of historical everyday photography showcases selected private photographs from its collection, illustrating the clothing of men, children, and especially women from the period of 1860 to 1970. The focus is on headgear. The photographs document how people dressed in everyday life, at work, and in their leisure time, as well as what they wore on their heads. Until the 1960s, hats were an integral part of clothing and could not be imagined without in public life. Today, hats are almost a thing of the past, except for individual hat models with which a few contemporaries experiment, contrary to the mainstream of baseball caps and beanies. The exhibition highlights the historical significance of hats and the diversity of headgear in social life. Hats have always made a statement—whether as protective clothing or a fashion statement, as a symbol of social status or as a distinguishing feature of professional standing, whether as a sign of a social occasion or an expression of the spirit of the times. An unusual collection of hat creations can be viewed in a digital slideshow. Historical hat models and fashionable accessories complement the photographs. A milliner will showcase her own modern hats and explain her craft via video. Visitors can also engage actively with games related to hats. Educational offerings for school classes to design their own headgear will be available for registered groups. You are warmly invited to the exhibition opening! Feel free to come wearing a hat, beanie, or cap for a photoshoot with a Polaroid camera and music from the 1920s. The exhibition will be held at the Cultural History Museum / Special Exhibition Room.